Disappointing Outcome of Great Powers Summit

Japanese policy makers must have disappointed with the outcome of summit meeting between United States and China in Washington D.C. on Friday. While two leaders spend much time to address problems in cyber security, there was mostly no progress over territorial dispute in South or East China Sea. It should be questioned whether Japanese security policy, excessively dependent on U.S., has been correct.

U.S. media, actually more excited with first visit of Pope Francis or abrupt resignation of House Speaker John Boehner at the time, focused on cyber security as the most important result of U.S.-China summit between President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping. New York Times reported that two leaders pledged “that their governments would refrain from computer-enabled theft of intellectual property for commercial gain.” The paper introduced the agreement as “first concrete steps” of them.

It is not a concrete step, in fact. Even how top leaders share a notion on harmfulness of cyber attacks, governments cannot control every cyber activity done by private actors. “Well, it is a matter of both nations, not governments,” China can say. Xi generalized the issue, saying “China and United States are two major cyber countries and we should strengthen dialogue and cooperation.” It is obvious that Chinese government will not take effective measures against cyber attacks. To be sure, U.S. has been lazy in deterring Chinese advance with passive attitude on arms buildup or inappropriate value of Renminbi in the first decade of this century.

On territorial issue in South China Sea, Obama tried to show himself as taking firm stance against unilateral change of status quo. “I conveyed to President Xi our significant concerns over land reclamation, construction and the militarization of disputed areas, which makes it harder for countries in the region to resolve disagreements peacefully,” told Obama in the joint press conference with Xi.

But, Xi was not interested in what Obama meant. “Islands in the South China Sea from ancient times are China’s territory. We have the right to uphold our own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests,” said Xi. The U.S. leader needs to realize that China is committing not only cyber theft, but territorial theft. If U.S. leaves Xi’s reasoning alone, he may start saying that the western half of Pacific Ocean is China’s territory from ancient times.

U.S.-China relationship directly or indirectly affects Japan. As long as U.S. interest in South and East China Sea is limited to some principles like freedom of navigation, the Japanese have to take a close look at how serious U.S. is about Japanese interest in East China Sea.